Pumps

ABSTRACT

A pump in which a tube having a valve assembly near to its lower end is reciprocably mounted on a support. The valve assembly is made up of a valve seat, a valve member and means for returning the member adjacent to the valve seat. In use, the lower end of the tube is immersed in a liquid and the tube is reciprocated relative to the liquid. Liquid flows through the valve assembly when the tube moves in one sense relative to the liquid but the valve member cooperates with the valve seat to prevent return flow when the tube moves in the opposite sense.

Allman et al.

1451 Dec. 24, 1974 PUMPS [75] Inventors: Denis John Allman; Robert Vincent Seager, both of Chichester, England [73] Assignee: E. Allman & Company Limited,

Chichester, Sussex, England [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,897

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 9, 1971 Great Britain 57310/71 [52] US. Cl. 417/241 [51] Int. Cl. F04i 7/00 [58] Field of Search 417/241, 559; 137/5395 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,469,106 9/1923 Phillips 137/5395 1,953,453 4/1934 Whipple 417/241 2,056,513 10/1936 Gambarini. 417/241 2,271,031 1/1942 Parker 137/5395 2,299,315 10/1942 Evans 417/559 2,322,139 6/1943 Kaelin 137/5395 2,591,951 4/1952 Lowry.... 2,702,559 2/1955 Bodine.... 417/241 2,934,024 4/1960 Hallstrom 417/559 3,027,849 4/1962 Zillman 'et al..,. 417/559 3,116,695 l/1964 Faller 417/241 3,124,076 3/1964 Bodine 417/241 3,136,257 6/1964 Smith et al 417/241 3,364,859 H1968 Bodine 417/241 3,665,957 5/1972 Fulmer et al. 137/5395 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 146,436 11/1920 Great Britain 417/241 Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-Gregory Paul LaPointe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browdy and Neimark 57 ABSTRACT A pump in which a tube having a valve assembly near to its lower end is reciprocably mounted on a support. The valve assembly is made up of a valve seat, a valve member and means for returning the member adjacent to the valve seat. In use, the lower end of the tube is immersed in a liquid and the tube is reciprocated relative to the liquid. Liquid flows through the valve assembly when the tube moves in one sense relative to the liquid but the valve member cooperates with the valve seat to prevent return flow when the tube moves in the opposite sense.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PUMPS This invention relates to pumps. 2 The present invention consists in a pump comprising a body formed with an elongated passage which extends between a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a sup-,

port upon which the body is reciprocably mounted, means for reciprocating the body relative to the support, a valve seat which is disposed in the passage between the inlet and the outlet, a valve member which is movable into and out of engagement with the seat, and means for retaining the valve member adjacent to the valve seat when the member is disengaged from the seat, whereby, in use, the body is arranged with the liquid inlet immersed in a liquid and the reciprocating means are operated to reciprocate the body relative to the support so that the passage is alternately moved relative to the liquid in a first sense, which corresponds to a flow of liquid from the inlet towards the outlet and causes disengagement of the valve seat and the valve member, and in the opposite sense, during which the valve seat and the valve member are engaged and a return flow of liquid is prevented or substantially prevented.

Preferably, the body is tubular and the passage is a bore in the tubular body.

Suitably, the valve member is slidable within the passage into and out of engagement with the valve seat. The member may be a ball and the valve seat a frustoconical or part spherical surface.

The retaining means may comprise a spring adapted to urge the member towards engagement with the valve seat. In this case the member is preferably spaced from the retaining means when the member engages the valve seat, engagement between the member and the retaining means is effected during movement of the body in the said one direction, thereby to distort the spring, and the member is subsequently urged back towards engagement with the valve seat by the spring. Alternatively, the retaining means may engage the member when the member engages the valve seat and during the time when the member is disengaged from the seat. Suitably, the spring is a helical spring whose axis extends lengthwise of the passage and which is fixedly secured relative to the body at or near the end thereof remote from the valve seat.

Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise an abutment which is provided within the passage at a location spaced from the valve member when the member engages the valve seat, engagement between the member and the abutment being effected when there is a predetermined spacing between the member and the seat and this engagement serving to prevent a further increase in the said spacing.

The reciprocating means may comprise an electric motor and means coupling an output shaft of the motor to the body. The coupling means may be mechanical coupling means. Alternatively, the reciprocating means may comprise an electric powered solenoid or a pneumatic solenoid.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a pump according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line II II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line III III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a second pump according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a part of a third pump according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically a fourth pump according to the invention.

The pump shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings is capable of pumping approximately gallons of liquid per hour and develops a pressure of approximately 25 pounds per square inch at zero flow rate. It is suitable for use in agricultural or horticultural spraying machines.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pump includes an upstanding joggle tube 1 of aluminium or stainless steel which has a valve assembly 3 and a filter 5 at its lower end. A driving tube 7 connects the upper end of the joggle tube 1 to a delivery tube 9 and the tube 7 is itself coupled via a crank assembly 11 to an electric motor 13 (see FIG. 3). When the filter 5 is immersed in a tank 15 of liquid and the motor 13 is energised, the driving tube 7,joggle tube 1, valve assembly 3 and filter 5 are reciprocated upwardlyand downwardly and liquid is pumped upwardly from the tank and outwardly from the delivery tube 9.

The filter 5 of the present pump includes a gauze 17 of stainless steel which is generally cylindrical but has a flared lower end. The gauze 17 is supported by a collar 19 which is secured to an upstanding filter tube 21 by means of a locking screw 23. Liquid entering the pump via an open, lower end of the tube 21 has to pass through the gauze 17, which removes foreign bodies therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 2, the filter tube 21 has an externally threaded section 25 which is engaged with an internal thread at the lower end of a polypropylene housing 27 of the valve assembly 3. A locking nut 29 serves to locate the tube 21 in a predetermined axial position relative to the housing 27.

Fitted into the top of the filter tube 21 is a sleeve 31 which has a frusto-conical valve seat 33 formed at an upper end thereof. The location of the filter tube 21 relative to the housing 27 is so arranged that the seat 33 is adjacent to a lower end of a valve chamber 35 formed within the housing.

Within the chamber 35 of the housing 27 there is first a ball 39 of propylene which serves as a valve member and cooperates with the valve seat 33 to control the flow of liquid through the housing 27. In use, the ball 39 is moved upwardly and downwardly by reciprocation of the joggle tube 1 and valve housing 27, as hereinafter described.

Associated with the ball 39 is a ball stop 41 for retaining the ball adjacent to the valve seat 33 during operation of the pump. The ball stop 41 is a generally cylindrical, hollow member having a bevel 43 at a lower end thereof for engagement with the ball 39. For mounting the ball stop 41 in the chamber 35 a mounting sleeve 44 is arranged coaxially of the chamber, above the ball stop 41, and is secured to the side wall of the chamber by screws 45. A compression spring 47 has its upper end fitted on to a lower part of the mounting sleeve 44 and its lower end fitted over an upper portion of the ball stop 41.

The lower end of the joggle tube 1 has an external thread which is engaged with an internal thread at the upper end of the valve housing 27. A locking nut 49 secures the tube 1 in a predetermined axial position relative to the housing 27.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper end of the joggle tube 1 is connected via a polypropylene connector 51 to the driving tube 7, which is made of stainless steel.

From the connector 51 the driving tube 7 extends upwardly via an aperture in a base plate 53 to the interior of a casing 55 which is welded to the base plate 53. The base plate 53 is formed with holes 57 for use in bolting the pump to a bracket 59 on the tank 15 of spraying liquid. The casing 55 is open at the front and is provided with a cover plate 61 which is secured in position by engaging a wing nut 63 with a bolt 65 which extends across the casing from an upstanding rear wall 67 thereof.

A felt washer 69 in a polypropylene housing is engaged between a bracket 71 and the base of the casing 55 and embraces the driving tube 7, providing a seal between the tube and the casing 55 which prevents oil and fumes from entering the casing whilst allowing reciprocation of the tube 7.

The motor 13 is mounted on the rear wall 67 of the casing 55 by means of bolts 73 which extend through a plate 75 secured to the rear wall 67. The motor 13 is arranged with an output shaft 77 thereof extending horizontally via apertures in the wall 67 and plate 75 to the interior of the casing 55. A cowl 79 for the motor 13 is also mounted on the wall 67 and a switch plate 81 carrying controls 83 for the pump is supported from the motor 13.

Within the casing 55 a crank 85, crank pin 87, connecting rod 89 and crank pin 91 of the crank assembly 11 couple the shaft 77 to an upstanding guided rod 93 which is secured to the upper end of the driving tube 7. Movement of the driving tube 7 is constrained to the vertical direction by engagement of the guide rod 93 in a vertical guide 95 which is attached to the plate 75 on the rear wall 67 of the casing 55.

An outlet for liquid from the driving tube 7 is provided by a side tube 97 which is coupled to the delivery tube 9 via a flexible hose 99. As shown. the delivery tube extends outwardly from the casing 55 via an aperture in an upper part of a side wall 101.

In the present pump the joggle tube 1 is 21 inches long and has an internal diameter of 0.5 inches. The valve housing 27 is inches long and 0.59 inches in internal diameter increasing to 0.69 inches in the chamber 35. The ball 39 is 0.5 inches in diameter and the lower end of the ball stop 41 is 0.125 inches above the ball when the ball rests on the valve seat 33.

In use, the base plate 53 of the present pump is bolted to the bracket on the tank of spraying liquid with the driving tube 7, joggle tube 1 and filter tube 21 in an upright position. The level of liquid in the tank 15 is such that the filter 5 is immersed in the liquid.

To operate the pump, the electric motor 13 is energised, thereby to reciprocate the driving tube 7, joggle tube 1, valve assembly 3 and filter 5 upwardly and downwardly. This causes liquid to be pumped upwardly from the tank 15 through the filter tube 21, housing 27 and tubes 1 and 7 to the hose 99, from whence the liquid travels outwardly from the delivery tube 9. With a stroke of 0.50 inches and 2,100 strokes per minute it is possible to pump 95 gallons of liquid per hour. The maximum pressure generated at zero flow is 25 pounds per square inch of liquid at C.

It will be appreciated that initially the ball 39 is resting upon the valve seat 33 a few inches above the level of liquid in the tank 15 so that a column of air is trapped between the ball 39 and the liquid and the pump is unprimed. When the pump is operated there is first a downwards movement of the filter tube 21 and housing 27 relative to the liquid. Assuming that this movement is fast enough the ball 39, whose movement is retarded by the column of air, does not move downwardly at the same speed, i.e., the valve seat 33 disengages from the ball 39. This allows the tube 21 to move downwardly relative to the column of air whilst the liquid level within the tube remains substantially the same as outside. In other words, there is an upwards transfer of air relative to the tube 21 from below the valve seat 33 to above the seat.

When the tube 21 has moved downwardly by approximately one-eighth inch relative to the ball 39 the latter is engaged by the lower end of the ball stop 41. Subsequent movement of the tube 21 downwardly relative to the ball 39 is accompanied by compression of the spring 47.

As the tube 21 reaches the end of its downwards movement the ball 39, moving downwardly under the influence of gravity and the spring 47, is re-engaged with the valve seat 33. This traps a reduced column of air between the liquid in the tube 21 and the ball 39.

During the subsequent upwards movement of the tube 21 the ball 39 remains engaged with the valve seat 33 and prevents movement of the tube 21 relative to the air therein in a sense which would allow an increase in the column of trapped air to its initial value. In other words, when the tube 21 has returned to its initial position the level of liquid within the tube is higher than the level outside by an amount approximately equal to the distance through which the tube 21. was previously moved downwardly into the liquid. The effect is therefore equivalent to the pumping of a small volume ofliquid upwardly in the tube 21 towards the valve seat 33.

During succeeding strokes the volume of air below the valve seat 33 is further decreased, until the liquid level reaches the seat. During subsequent strokes downwards movement of the ball 39 is retarded by the liquid, rather than air in the tube 21. Accordingly, there is again a disengagement of the valve seat 33 from the ball 39 and a movement of the tube 21 and housing 27 downwardly relative to liquid in the tube 21 during each downwards movement of the tube. During each upwards movement the valve seat 33 and the ball 39 are re-engaged to prevent a return flow of liquid within the tube 21 and the housing 27. Each downwards and upwards movement produces therefore a transfer of liquid from below the valve seat 33 to above the seat, i.e., a pumping action.

It is found that the pump can be operated with the tubes 7 and 1, housing 27 and tube 21 inclined to the vertical and arranged for reciprocating generally lengthwise thereof.

In the pump shown in FIG. 4, where parts corresponding to parts of the pump of FIGS. 1 to 3 are given like reference numbers, the tube 7 is horizontally disposed. The tube 1 is extended in length, however, and an end section 117 of the tube is inclined to a main section 113 at an angle of approximately The housing 27 and filter 5 are secured to the end section 117 which is dipped into liquid in the tank 15. The tubes 7,

l and 21 and the housing 27 are then reciprocated horizontally. A pumping action is obtained as a result of liquid being forced upwards via the filter 5 and tube 21 to the housing 27 and causing disengagement of the ball from the valve seat, during each movement to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4. The tube 1 in FIG. 4 may be made of rigid material or of a material which is sufficiently flexible for the end section 117 to be bent to the required inclination, though not so flexible that liquid is not forced up the tube during reciprocation.

In a further pump according to the invention the spring associated with the ball is a light spring which just engages the ball even when the ball is engaged with the valve seat. The force exerted on the ball by the spring is readily overcome to allow disengagement of the valve seat from the ball when the tubes are moved downwardly into the liquid.

In a further pump, shown in FIG. 5, the spring 47 is omitted and the ball retaining means take the form of a cylindrical retainer 121 secured to the side wall of the housing 27 a short distance above the ball 39. The retainer 121 engages the ball 39 after it has been disengaged from the valve seat 33 and retains the ball at a location adjacent to the seat during downwards movement of the housing 27. When the housing 27 is brought to rest and then moved upwards the valve seat 33 is quickly re-engaged with the ball 39.

The retainer 121 can be replaced by other forms of abutment secured to the wall of the housing 27 a short distance above the ball 39.

In place of the electric motor 13 and crank assembly 11 described above the pump shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings is provided with an electric solenoid 131. Solenoid 131 includes a coil I33 and a laminated core 135. A soft iron plunger is secured to the upper end of the driving tube 7 and extends upwardly into the coil 135. Application of an alternating current to the coil 133 causes the plunger I37, and with it the driving tube 7, joggle tube 1 and valve housing 27, to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly.

A pneumatic solenoid can also be employed in place of the electric solenoid of FIG. 6.

A further pump according to the invention is adapted for mounting on an agricultural or horticultural spraying machine and is provided with means for coupling the driving tube to a ground wheel of the machine. As the machine is driven over the ground drive is transmitted from the ground wheel of the driving tube, which is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly.

We claim:

1. A portable pump comprising a body formed with an elongated passage which extends between a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet;

a support for mounting adjacent to a vessel containing the liquid to be pumped which the body is reciprocably mounted,

means mounted on the support for effecting a bodily reciprocation of the body relative to the support so that when the liquid inlet of said body is beneath the liquid in said vessel, said inlet will reciprocate within said liquid,

a valve seat which is disposed in the passage between the inlet and the outlet and spaced from said inlet by a tubular inlet passage of substantially uniform diameter,

a valve member which is movable into and out of engagement with the seat, and

means for retaining the valve member adjacent to the valve seat when the member is disengaged from v the seat, said retaining means comprising a spring,

whereby, in use, the body is arranged with the liquid inlet immersed in a liquid and the reciprocating means are operated to reciprocate the body relative to the support so that the passage is alternately moved relative to the liquid in a first sense, which corresponds to a flow of liquid from the inlet towards the outlet and causes disengagement of the valve seat and the valve member against the action of the spring, and in the opposite sense, during which the spring assists in effecting a rapid re engagement of the valve seat and the valve member and a return flow of liquid is prevented or substantially prevented. 2. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is tubular and the passage is a bore in the tubular body.

3. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is slidable within the passage into and out of engagement with the valve seat, and

wherein said support comprises a washer through which said reciprocable body moves.

4. A pump as claimed in claim 3, wherein the member is a ball and the valve seat is a frusto-conical or part-spherical surface.

5. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining means engage the member when the member engages the valve seat and during the time when the member is disengaged from the seat.

6. A pump as claimed in claim I, wherein the spring is a helical spring whose axis extends lengthwise of the passage and which is fixedly secured relative to the body at or near the end thereof remote from the valve seat.

7. A pump as claimed in claim 3,'wherein the retaining means comprise an abutment which is provided within the passage at a location spaced from the valve member when the member engages the valve seat, engagement between the member and the abutment being effected when there is a predetermined spacing between the member and the seat and this engagement serving to prevent a further increase in the said spacing.

8. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body and the passage therein are rectilinear and the reciprocating means are adapted to reciprocate the body in a direction parallel with, or substantially parallel with the passage, the body being arranged, in use, with the passage upright or inclined to the horizontal.

9. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein liquid inlet is disposed in an end section of the body which is in clined to the main section thereof and the reciprocating means are adapted to reciprocate the body in a direction parallel with or substantially parallel with the main section, the body being arranged, in use, with the main section generally horizontal and the end section downwardly inclined from the main section.

10. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating means comprise an electric motor and means coupling an output shaft of the motor to the body.

11. A pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling means are mechanical coupling means.

12. A pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling means comprises a solenoid.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,856,437 Dated December 24, 1974 ALIMAN et a1 Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 55, after "pumped" insert --upon-- Signed and sealed this 22nd day of April. 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: Y I

. C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Cormnissioner of Patents and Trademarks Attesting Officer FORM Po-wso (IO-69) USCOMWDC 376$ ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE l9, 0-365-381 

1. A portable pump comprising a body formed with an elongated passage which extends between a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet; a support for mounting adjacent to a vessel containing the liquid to be pumped which the body is reciprocably mounted, means mounted on the support for effecting a bodily reciprocation of the body relative to the support so that when the liquid inlet of said body is beneath the liquid in said vessel, said inlet will reciprocate within said liquid, a valve seat which is disposed in the passage between the inlet and the outlet and spaced from said inlet by a tubular inlet passage of substantially uniform diameter, a valve member which is movable into and out of engagement with the seat, and means for retaining the valve member adjacent to the valve seat when the member is disengaged from the seat, said retaining means comprising a spring, whereby, in use, the body is arranged with the liquid inlet immersed in a liquid and the reciprocating means are operated to reciprocate the body relative to the support so that the passage is alternately moved relative to the liquid in a first sense, which corresponds to a flow of liquid from the inlet towards the outlet and causes disengagement of the valve seat and the valve member against the action of the spring, and in the opposite sense, during which the spring assists in effecting a rapid re-engagement of the valve seat and the valve member and a return flow of liquid is prevented or substantially prevented.
 2. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is tubular and the passage is a bore in the tubular body.
 3. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is slidable within the passage into and out of engagement with the valve seat, and wherein said support comprises a washer through which said reciprocable body moves.
 4. A pump as claimed in claim 3, wherein the member is a ball and the valve seat is a frusto-conical or part-spherical surface.
 5. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining means engage the member when the member engages the valve seat and during the time when the member is disengaged from the seat.
 6. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring is a helical spring whose axis extends lengthwise of the passage and which is fixedly secured relative to the body at or near the end thereof remote from the valve seat.
 7. A pump as claimed in claim 3, wherein the retaining meanS comprise an abutment which is provided within the passage at a location spaced from the valve member when the member engages the valve seat, engagement between the member and the abutment being effected when there is a predetermined spacing between the member and the seat and this engagement serving to prevent a further increase in the said spacing.
 8. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body and the passage therein are rectilinear and the reciprocating means are adapted to reciprocate the body in a direction parallel with, or substantially parallel with the passage, the body being arranged, in use, with the passage upright or inclined to the horizontal.
 9. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein liquid inlet is disposed in an end section of the body which is inclined to the main section thereof and the reciprocating means are adapted to reciprocate the body in a direction parallel with or substantially parallel with the main section, the body being arranged, in use, with the main section generally horizontal and the end section downwardly inclined from the main section.
 10. A pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating means comprise an electric motor and means coupling an output shaft of the motor to the body.
 11. A pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling means are mechanical coupling means.
 12. A pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling means comprises a solenoid. 